Why Chargers' stadium situation could lead to them firing Jim Harbaugh

Shortly after the Los Angeles Chargers fell to 0-4 on the season, whispers surfaced suggesting that Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh could be fired either during or after the campaign. 

The Chargers have since fallen to 0-6, and it seemed as of the start of the club's Week 7 bye that first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel had worked his last game as a member of the organization. For a piece updated on Wednesday, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN addressed the financial reasons that could cause Chargers ownership to soon show Harbaugh the door.

"Maintaining excitement" among Chargers fans is a must for Jim Harbaugh

"The future of the Chargers' coaching staff is a big talking point this week," Fowler wrote. "Head coach Jim Harbaugh hasn't tweaked his offensive staff as of yet. Change, in some form, feels inevitable, but offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel was part of practice Tuesday. The bigger question looms: What do the Chargers do with Harbaugh if the season continues to sink? It's not the Chargers' style to pay a coach millions to not coach. But as a few industry sources pointed out, a bottom-of-the-league finish would force the Chargers to do some soul-searching, in part because the Chargers don't bring in as much revenue for their home games as other teams do, because they don't own their home stadium. Maintaining excitement is important in that regard."

On paper, there's little to be excited about regarding the rest of the Chargers' season. Quarterback Justin Herbert has played so poorly that "some around the league" are allegedly wondering if he could be traded to an interested team before the 2027 NFL Draft gets underway. Fair or not, those running the Chargers could blame Harbaugh for how Herbert has failed to develop after the signal-caller signed a five-year, $262.5M contract extension in the summer of 2023.

How many games may Jim Harbaugh need to win to save his job? 

The Chargers failed to produce a single touchdown drive in their 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday. It sounds like McDaniel won't be the only big-name Los Angeles coach out of a job this January if that Week 6 contest proves to be a preview of things to come for the 2026 Chargers. 

"Harbaugh is coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons, which typically fosters a grace period to manage the low points," Fowler added. "That may be the case here. But if the Chargers can't turn things around and are looking at a 3-14 finish, then what?"

Following their bye, the winless Chargers will be the road team for their matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 1. One wonders whether Harbaugh could be fired as soon as the morning of Nov. 2 if the Rams embarrass the Chargers that Sunday afternoon.